Anti-globalisation summit opens

Delegates from around the world are attending the event

Tens of thousands of anti-globalisation activists have gathered in the Indian city of Bombay for a six-day rally.

Now in its fourth year, the giant outdoor World Social Forum (WSF) will also be a platform for protests against US policy in Iraq.

The WSF was set up in Brazil in 2001 as a rival to the World Economic Forum of business and political leaders, which meets next week in Switzerland.

Yet some left-wing activists oppose the WSF, saying it is not radical enough.

One such organisation is the Muslim-dominated Indian group Bombay Resistance 2004.

This will be protesting outside the rally, angry that until last year the event was funded by the US-based Ford Foundation and British charities.

Alternative funding

Organisers of the WSF, which in the past has been timetabled to clash with the World Economic Forum, but this year ends as the other begins, said the Ford funding had now been stopped.

A BRAZILIAN IN BOMBAY Read activist Atila Roque's report

It now relies on donations from member organisations, such as trade unions.

Prominent figures who are attending this year's forum, which runs from 16 to 21 January, include French anti-McDonalds activist Jose Bove, Booker Prize-winning Indian author Arundhati Roy, and Iranian human rights lawyer and Nobel peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi.

Labour MP and anti-war activist Jeremy Corbyn is attending from the UK.

Social divides

Despite being primarily anti-globalisation and anti-capitalism, the most dominate theme of this year's event is expected to be criticism of US President George W Bush and the invasion of Iraq.

Bombay is the city where we face the toughest challenges in terms of globalisation Gautam Mody, WSF organiser

Mr Corbyn said: "Of course that will be the focus.

"If we don't oppose war, we will soon be in another war."

Some 90,000 people have registered to attend this year's event which takes place in Bombay.

Ambitious aims

The western Indian city, also called Mumbai, is the country's financial capital and home both to some of India's wealthiest people, but also one of the country's largest slums.

"This is the city where we face the toughest challenges in terms of globalisation," said WSF organiser Gautam Mody.

Indian trade unionist Varada Rajan added that holding the event in Bombay, was to choose "the lion's den".

The WSF, which also campaigns for female equality and against religious extremism, has the slogan "Another World Is Possible".

Organisers decided to switch this year's event to India from Brazil, because Asia is home to both half the world's population, and some of its poorest people.